THE Yangtze Delta has had five previous close contacts with past World Expos.

?In 1851, the Rong brand of Huzhou silk, made in neighbouring Zhejiang Province, was granted both the gold prize and the silver prize at the World Expo London. (Xu Rongcun, who worked at the Shanghai Baoshun Firm owned by a British merchant, participated in the Expo).

?In 1906, the Yisheng wine made by Jiangsu Yisheng Brewery was granted the gold prize at the World Expo Milan.

?In 1915, a silk embroidery of the Christian Jesus by Shen Shou won first prize at the San Francisco Panama Pacific Expo.

?In 1926, a Changzhou fine-toothed comb made in Jiangsu was awarded the gold prize at the World Expo Philadelphia US.

?In 1999, the world horticultural exposition was held in Kunming in Southwest China's Yunnan Province. Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang participated, each with their respective theme pavilions.